In the world of smartphones, bigger is definitely better. According to a study conducted by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech reveals that smartphones with bigger and wider screens sell better. In the last three months, Android-powered smartphones featuring 4.5 inch screens hold 29 percent of total smartphone sales.

Apple recently won a verdict over Samsung in a United States federal court. Not satisfied with the $1 billion Samsung owes them, the Cupertino-based company also seeks the ban of popular Samsung smartphones such as the Galaxy S III and Note. Fortunately for Samsung, sales in Europe have been very encouraging for them.

Samsung has a 67 percent market share in Europe, up by 20.2 percent from last year. Samsung has increased its smartphone market share everywhere in the world, except in the United States.

Smartphones that use the Android operating system own more than half of smartphone sales in almost every major market. In fact, Android smartphones almost have a 90 percent hold in Spain.

Kantar added that in eight major markets across the world, Android is the most used mobile operating system (61 percent), while Apple is the second most used (24 percent).

Kantar commented that a bigger screen allows users to perform a variety of tasks and services.

Consumers are expecting Apple to announce the
iPhone 5 in a few days and rumors are circulating that it will have a much bigger screen.

Apple's iPhone 4 only has a 3.5-inch screen.

Seoul, South Korea

Samsung expects to surpass 30 million sales of its Galaxy S3 smartphone this year. The prediction was made by Samsung IT and mobile unit chief Shin Jong-kyun, according to Korea-based media outlet Yonhap News. Samsung only needs to sell 10 more million units to reach its goal of 30 million. In four months since its release the Galaxy S3 has managed to sell 20 million units already.

Samsung also expects its Galaxy Note 2, which is a smartphone and tablet hybrid, to be a huge hit when it's released later this year. The first model of the Galaxy Note has sold 10 million units so far.

This is certainly good news for Samsung. Samsung and Apple are currently waging a global smartphone battle. A United States federal judge decided last month that Samsung infringed on Apple's copyright patents and ordered Samsung to pay Apple $1 billion in damages.

Analysts have estimated that there will be 567 million smartphone shipments worldwide by the end of the year. That figure is expected to double four years from now.

"Apple's iPhone 5 will be a key product for the smartphone market in [the second half of 2012]. Apple shipped more than 140 million phones in 2010 and 2011, so we can expect smartphone shipments to continue flourishing as users upgrade to the new iPhone," NPD DisplaySearch analyst Hiroshi Hayase said, according to CNET.

Previously, NPD DisplaySearch estimated that smartphone shipments would reach somewhere between 220 to 230 million in the United States this year. Now it has adjusted its forecast to 177 million units.